When we talk about the greatest NFL games of all-time, one of the prerequisites for consideration always seems to be the context. It should at very least match two "good" teams, and preferably be a playoff game, if not the Super Bowl. It should be of some import.
But what if every game existed in a vacuum? That we could only judge "the greatest games" by on-field drama alone? I wonder how many fantastic games like that are lost to history because the game didn't carry any real significance. I submit to you that last week's Eagles/Bucs game would take their place in the pantheon if context didn't count.
It won't because the Bucs are heading nowhere and the Eagles are an iffy proposition in their own right. But I don't remember ever seeing a game that was such a tellable, outstanding story. To be sure, out of the thousands of games I've seen in my life, I'm calling it the greatest. The Doug Flutie hail mary game is the only one that approaches it.
The first half was tight, low-scoring, and ended in controversy. The Eagles were dominating statistically, but trailing 7-0 thanks to a Ronde Barber interception return for a touchdown. Philadelphia had a chance to put some points on the board to end the half, getting the ball to the Bucs' 8-yard line with :09 left and no timeouts. So take your shot at the end zone, and if it works out, great. If not, send in the kicker.
Except Donovan McNabb committed the cardinal sin of throwing short of the end zone, hitting L.J. Smith at the two, where he was brought down where he stood in bounds. Half over.
The Bucs upped their lead to 10-0 in the second half, and then McNabb threw another interception that Barber took back to the house. It was a statement game for Barber, letting the world know his brother isn't the only superstar in the family, and unlike Tiki, he will not be retiring at the end of the season.
That the Eagles were down 17-0 more than halfway through the third quarter could arguably been pinned entirely on McNabb. He seemed to realize this and decided at that point that he had the sheer ability to atone for his errors single-handedly. Which he did. Three touchdown passes later, and the Eagles were up 21-20.
Credit must be given to Brian Westbrook's role in the comeback. He broke four tackles on the 56-yard go-ahead touchdown reception. He ran for 101 yards at an 7.8 average clip. He had over 100 receiving yards, as well.
But this comeback really belonged to McNabb. He threw the touchdown passes, he worked himself to the vomiting point (needing to burn a timeout to compose himself after the upchuck), and made big runs that recollects a much younger McNabb. This game, to me, will always be McNabb's signature game.
When Philadelphia pulled to within 17-7 and you could feel momentum shifting, I thought to myself, "If the Eagles do come back, I hope it won't be because the Bucs gave them anything."
And the funny part is, they really didn't. Most times a team comes back from three scores down in a short amount of time (less than 20 football minutes in this case), they receive plenty of help from the other team. But not only did the Bucs not once turn the ball over in the time it took for the Eagles to go from down 17-0 to up 21-20, but they didn't even go three and out. They chewed up clock, took care of the football, and even managed a multi-first down, clock-eating scoring drive to push their lead from 17-14 to 20-14 with just about two minutes left. It's just that McNabb would not be denied. He had something to atone for.
The Eagles took the lead with 33 seconds left. Michael Pittman made a nice return out to the Bucs' 35 on the ensuing kickoff. In the next few plays to follow, the Buccaneers managed to (literally, given the Bruce Gradkowski run that got them there) stumble to the Eagles' 45 with four seconds left. I assume everyone reading this knows what happened next.
I love the way it was reckoned by a commenter named Pat on FootballOutsiders.com: "That was very likely the most ludicrous field goal ever attempted. It was absolutely the most ludicrous field goal ever made."
Consider that it was only the third field goal in NFL history longer than 60 yards. One of the other ones came in the thin air of Mile High Stadium. The other came 36 years ago from a kicker with a blunt-edged, powerful foot. Consider also that Matt Bryant's career-long field goal was 50 yards (oops, I'm providing outside-of-game context) and that he was 2-of-5 in field goals on the season (there I go again) coming into the game. McNabb's ridiculousness was trumped by Bryant's preposterousness.
That preposterousness saved the Bucs from finishing the game +4 in turnovers and losing anyway. The announcers made much of the fact that teams going +3 in turnovers in a game win it 91% of the time. They didn't say how often a team +4 wins it, but it has to be well north of 95%, I would think.
And yet, how often does one team gain over 72% of the net yards gained in a game (506-196) and lose? The Eagles did, and these are are all the numbers and stories that add up to one of the greatest games ever played, and it'll be a shame if it gets consigned to the dustbin of history.
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Onto the college football picks (1-4 last column, 9-11 on the year): My pick listed first, home team in CAPS.
Oklahoma (+1.5) over MISSOURI
Even with Missouri's great start, and even though the Sooners have lost Adrian Peterson, I still am unconvinced that the Tigers have bridged the talent gap between themselves and Oklahoma enough to win this game. Oklahoma has two wins (albeit with Peterson) better than any of Mizzou's wins (For prognosticating purposes, I'm counting OU's screwjob against Oregon as a win. The other team is Washington.)
Buffalo (+35.5) over BOSTON COLLEGE
I may be overly seduced by the absolutely gigunderous line — it wouldn't be the first time — but Buffalo is 4-2-1 against the spread this year, and I'm not sure any team is going to put up more than six touchdowns in what should be (hopefully?) a cold prelude-to-winter late October New England day. Which means Buffalo may only need a single touchdown to ultimately cover.
GEORGIA TECH (-5) over Miami
Miami barely got by Duke last week. Whatever suspended players they get back for this one won't be nearly enough to split the difference with the Jackets.
Wake Forest (-8.5) over NORTH CAROLINA
If not for an unfortunate chain of events against Clemson, Wake would be undefeated. The Tarheels have been blown out in four straight games, last week getting shut out by mighty Virginia. Don't see how this one stays anywhere near as close as 8-9 points.
WASHINGTON (PK) over Arizona State
Both have had nice results against USC, but Washington had a much better result against Cal than the Sun Devils did, and have a better resume overall. And they're at home.
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